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Largest Job Gain in Four Years Welcome Sign of Progress, Congressman Garamendi Says

ANTIOCH, CA –Following a U.S. Labor Department report that the American economy added 290,000 jobs in April, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) issued the following statement:

"Today’s new employment figures are welcome news for thousands of people in my district who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. We gained 290,000 jobs this month, most of which are in the private sector. We still have a long way to go, but we’ve made undeniable progress.

"We are at this point in economic recovery, because my colleagues and I have passed a number of powerful jobs bills that allowed millions of people to earn a living. We are continuing to see the product of important legislation like the Recovery Act on our roads, on construction sites, in the classroom, and increasingly in factories

"Remember, we began this journey in a deep hole. Because of Wall Street’s Russian roulette games and the failures of the previous administration, millions of Americans lost jobs during the Great Recession. During the last three months of the Bush Administration our country was hemorrhaging an average of 727,000 jobs per month.

"By contrast, under a Democratic White House and Democratic Congress, over the last three months, we have added an average of 187,000 jobs per month. We are a resilient people with a strong work ethic, and with smart policies that encourage job growth, our hardworking men and women are proving that we can triumph over adversity.

"Even conservative economists acknowledge that the Recovery Act stabilized our economy and dramatically improved our employment numbers. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Recovery Act has created and saved up to 2.7 million jobs thus far. At the Caldecott Tunnel project site alone, we created around 5,000 jobs. However, this wasn’t enough. In the past month, the President signed the HIRE Act into law. Just one aspect of the bill, the payroll tax exemption, will result in 300,000 new jobs. That’s progress.

"But to the many people in my district and across this nation frustrated and angered by what remains a difficult job market, to you I pledge that Congress remains committed to helping you land on your feet. Just yesterday, I voted for the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. This bill will create 170,000 jobs, primarily in the construction sector, which is the hardest hit part of the economy. I also voted for the COMPETES Act, which will transform our research capacity and make our country far more competitive in the global market for jobs. Time and again, Democrats have stood up for the middle class and worked to bring high-paying jobs to America. I will continue working hard to put even more Americans back to work."